Sega Genesis Model 1

[Anonymous No.6318170]

So while trying to set up a new tower of power, I ran into a snag with my model 1 sega genesis. Using a third party AV cable, I wasnt getting video but sound was working fine. Tried this on both my main CRT television a smaller CRT and a modern flat screen with all the same results.

After some troubleshooting I tried to fiddle with the cable at the back of the genesis and got video to work for a short while only when pressing hard. Letting go made the video vanish. So I'm thinking its either the 3rd party cable or the console itself. Just want thoughts from more experienced collectors or experts when it comes to internals on these retro consoles.

For reference this is the "High Definition" Model 1601 with TMSS.

[Anonymous No.6318171]

>>6318170
It is the cable. Shitty third party ones don't fit properly and the video will cut out. Buy a cable for a reputable dealer.

[Anonymous No.6318178]

>>6318171
Any suggestions where to look? I've been buying from a local retro shop and they only carry this Old Skool brand cables.

[Anonymous No.6318194]

>>6318178
I'm using Scart, so can't help you on RCA, someone else might be able to. Most enthusiasts don't like the composite output of the Genesis. If you can get an OEM one, that will definitely work. 99% sure this is your problem, since I've used shitty cables before and your description is identical.

Also plug your headphones jack into your stereo, using a splitter instead of using the AV cable. Genesis 1 only outputs stereo from the headphones jack.

[Anonymous No.6318212]

>>6318194
Thanks anon. I'll look into everything you suggested.

[Anonymous No.6318223]

>>6318212
You could try getting an HD retrovision component cable for genesis. It's fairly expensive due to having an RGB to component converter in the cable itself but if you can use component, I recommend it

[Anonymous No.6318231]

>>6318170
If not the cable, then you should re-flow the solder on the underside of the DIN connector (video output is a DIN connector on the model 1).

Even if you've never soldered before it's the kind of thing you could do on your own with an unadjustable $10 hardware store iron.

[Anonymous No.6318240]

>>6318231
p.s. I'm not >>6318194

I think it's not your cable; I think it's most likely to be your DIN connector. It could still be the cable, though. The fact that applying pressure briefly gave you a signal makes me think you've got cracked solder joints.

My Model 1 had similar on the DC power jack.

[Anonymous No.6318363]

OP here. I guess I'll have to check everything out. I hate to think it's an internal issue since I worry about screwing something up.

[Anonymous No.6318590]

>>6318363
If it's internal, it's almost definitely just the video output connector, which is _easy_ to reflow. One of the easiest internal repairs imaginable on a Genesis. In fact, reflowing like that is one of the first soldering projects I ever did. The pins are spaced out enough that you aren't likely to short anything.

It should take under 5 minutes including the time for the iron to warm up.

I really, really, highly doubt you'll make it worse even if you've never soldered before.

The best way to reflow is to remove the old solder and add new solder, but you can almost definitely get away with just applying the iron to the contact points until they melt, one at a time.
Just don't keep applying force or you might damage the board itself. missing solder pads are trickier to fix than just a solder reflow.
Genesis model 1's especially are notoriously prone to cracked solder on the connectors.

[Anonymous No.6318647]

Your board might be a different revision, but the approximate location of the connector's near the same corner and that's what matters. Basically you can figure out if you tap your iron on the two points I marked.

Or you can test RF output, and if you can get a steady picture via RF you know for sure your AV connector's the problem.

[Anonymous No.6318985]

A little uneasy about taking things apart but I'll look into it. I'll need to buy a soldering kit as well.

[Anonymous No.6320529]

>>6318985
If you want to just verify that's the problem, you can plug it in, flip the PCB upside down, and press down on the solder joints with your finger.
You'll get to the point where you think it's fun to fix them, if you can get the ball rolling.

There aren't many sizes of screws or anything to remember in the MD/Genesis model 1. Just three sizes that I remember. All but three are the same, the smallest one is memorably placed (on the heat sink) and so is the final pair (on the cartridge connector).
Even if you forget a screw or anything when putting it back together, it's not going to make the console stop working either.

[Anonymous No.6321542]

>>6318985
recipe for disaster

[Anonymous No.6322080]

>>6320529
>reddit
sounds legit

[Anonymous No.6322802]

So just an update for any anons that were curious. It was, in fact, a faulty av cord which I replaced and thankfully wasn't an internal issue.

Also after some additional troubleshooting, turns out the ac adapter for the sega cd was causing interference on the tv somehow (fuzzy wavy lines). After replacing that as well, the picture came out perfect.

My next goal now is to buy a sega 32x to complete the tower of power. I've read you get a slightly better picture using the av through the 32x system. Is there really that much of an improvement? Anyone have experience with this?

[Anonymous No.6322829]

>>6322802
Cool, I was pretty sure that was the case. I had an identical problem with a shit replacement cable I bought for cheap off the internet. The video was cutting in and out because it literally didn't fit in the Genesis properly. Yes, its worth paying the extra 5-10 bucks for a decent one.

[Anonymous No.6323221]

This is somewhat related, but I did an s video mod a few months ago on my genesis model 1 and I notice some interference that crawls up from the bottom to top of the screen. It is annoying enough to where I usually just emulate on the wii for component but that is because I got a crt with component in. What is the cause of this? I checked the composite and it does not do this. I suppose I could get a scart to component converter and get a scart cable, that would probably work better than the s video. Kinda hard to see it in this photo bit the little horizontal lighter lines of pixels in the sky here in castlevania bloodlines show it well.

[Anonymous No.6323227]

Better pic

[Anonymous No.6323236]

>>6323221
>i fucked up my console what is the cause of this?
Well, let's see. First the earth cooled. And then the dinosaurs came, but they got too big and fat, so they all died and they turned into oil. And then the Arabs came and they bought Mercedes Benzes. And then a zoomer fucked with shit it shouldn't have.

[Anonymous No.6323305]

>>6323221
slow crawling interference is likely shitty power supply.

[Anonymous No.6323331]

>>6323305
I have two Chinese power supplies and using the other one I see even worse interference with some blue waves across the screen. I appears the power supply is the culprit. Any good third party replacements? I want to get a power supply for my nes and snes too since I've just been using the Chinese ones that work for all 3

[Anonymous No.6323897]

>>6323331
Best bet for knowing you're getting a legit supply that's gonna meet noise and safety spec is go digikey/other western distributors. Genesis spec is reasonably common, https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/triad-magnetics/WSU090-1300-R/237-1452-ND/3094978, SNES/NES uses a less common plug so can be sensible to get good quality brick (same one is fine), chop and splice the plug from your china supply.

[Anonymous No.6324190]

>>6323897
Found an adapter for that power supply as well as the power supply on console5, but what is this reverse polarity jumper cable that retrorgb recommends and do I need it?

[Anonymous No.6324369]

>>6324190
that's to swap from positive centre to negative centre, or vice versa. Genesis needs negative and positive is most common on recent stuff, but that linked digikey brick or the bricks console5's selling specifically as a genesis brick should be correct already.

[Anonymous No.6324768]

>>6323221
>What is the cause of this? I checked the composite and it does not do this.
or you can't recognize it because, well, it's composhit.

[Anonymous No.6324884]

>>6322080
>reddit
What's this about reddit?
>>6322802
Good, glad it wasn't internal.
>>6323221
I bet it's a grounding issue.
Try tapping ground from the RF modulator (or the AV connector). Not all ground points on the motherboard are necessarily the same and that's a classic ground loop problem.

Also, tap +5v from the AV connector or the 1145 (encoder).

This was my mod circuit.

[Anonymous No.6324885]

>>6324884
(note: pic doesn't show ground, but you need to ground the bottom two pins on the s-video connector.)

[Anonymous No.6324893]

>>6324885
>>6324884
Also note:
I actually used a 2n3904 rather than 2SC945. But that shouldn't matter.

[Anonymous No.6325026]

>>6324884
I think I used your same circuit. I took the ground from a strip along the edge of the case. I think I grounded the two pins to the silver strips on the left and upper right of the motherboard, pictured here

[Anonymous No.6325040]

>>6325026
Got the 5v from one of the clips on the left under the rf shield in that pic too

[Anonymous No.6325051]

>>6325040
Oddly enough, either it didn't happen when I first did the mod, or I didn't notice it. That is why I think it is the power supply not being very good because the interference might have started just recently. I'm not sure.

[Anonymous No.6325092]

>>6325026
You should definitely change your ground to the AV connector or the RF module. Even the RF module shield is fine. I removed the RF module from mine to use its hole for an S-Video plug.

[Anonymous No.6325098]

>>6325051
>>6325092
I should add,
It _is_ also possible that it's a power supply problem, though.
If you have one, you can try powering it from a euro/JP SNES power brick, or an SMS brick. Some old Casio keyboards also work, but just make sure you've got the polarity right.

[Anonymous No.6325856]

>>6325098
Oh yeah
Roland MT-32 PSU also works.

[Anonymous No.6326081]

>>6324884
>What's this about reddit?
Stupid redditots like you come here and shit the place up

[Anonymous No.6327251]

>>6325092
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Anonymous No.6328002]

>>6325092
this is a gore thread now

[Anonymous No.6329540]

>>6325092
that's the before-pic, right?

right!?